Youโve got your always-important hand washing routine down pat, but โsoap, hot water, and hand sanitizers strip the protective barrier of our skin that is responsible for retaining moisture, leading to dryness and, in some cases, inflammation,โ explains Amanda Clabaugh, Treatments Manager at The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley, PA.
To help keep your hands soft and healthy, Clabaugh recommends applying a moisturizer right after you wash or sanitizeโand to wear gloves if youโre doing activities like cleaning or yard work. For moisturizers, she likes those that contain lots of omega-3 fatty acids, like olive oil or chia seed oil, as well as hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture. โWe love Naturopathicaโs Lemon Verbena Omega-3 Hand Cream for its powerful ingredients, as well as its beautifully uplifting citrus scent,โ she says. Exfoliate hands once or twice a weekโwithout overdoing it, she advises. โChoose an exfoliant that contains jojoba beads or oats as the key ingredient, as they are hydrating and gentle.โ
Clabaughโs DIY Version
SOFTENING HAND AND FOOT SCRUB
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon honey
ยฝ cup sugar
3 tablespoons warmed coconut oil
ยฝ lemon, squeezed
Mix all ingredients together and apply to clean hands and feet. Rinse with warm water.